Nonprofit Approaches Solve The Rural Broadband Problem
Wally Bowen has again penned an op-ed that we gained permission to reprint. The original ran in North Carolina's Durham News Observer.
Fast, affordable Internet access for all.
News
70 Groups Call on Congress to Drop SOPA / PIPA
The Institute for Local Self-Reliance joined many other groups in signing a letter calling on Congress to cease considering the Stop Online Privacy Act (SOPA) and instead initiate a balanced process meant to seriously consider a proper way to defend copyrights that does not threaten the open Internet.
Rural Wisconsin Residents Struggle to Connect to the Internet
A group of rural residents living east of Madison, Wisconsin, gathered near Portage of Columbia County to discuss their lack of affordable high speed access to the Internet. These are people for whom slow, overpriced DSL would be an improvement.
North Carolina County Turns on First White Spaces Wireless Network in Nation
A local government in southeast North Carolina is the first entity to deploy a "Super Wi-Fi" white-spaces broadband network.
Corporations Oppose Limits to Local Authority in South Carolina
With AT&T continuing to push H.3508, a bill to further erode local authority over broadband and ensure AT&T faces no competition in areas of the state, a number of corporations have signed a letter asking the South Carolina Legislature not to chase jobs out of the state.
USA Today Covers Lafayette Community Fiber Success
The USA Today occasionally covered the Lafayette muni fiber network fight as Cox and Bellsouth used every dirty trick conceivable against the community to shut it down.
Smart Conduit Considerations for Forward-Looking Communities
Local governments are often looking for low-risk options for expanding broadband access to residents and local businesses. There are not many.
Australia Examines Telehealth Benefits from National Broadband Network
As Australia rolls out its National Broadband Network (NBN), an open access mostly FTTH network that will connect 90% of the population (with most of the rest connected with high capacity wireless), it is exploring telehealth opportunities:
“Expanding telehealth services to older Aust
NATOA Asks Georgia to Preserve Local Broadband Authority
As Georgia's Senate considers revoking local authority over whether or not to build a community network, the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisers has written to the Committee, opposing SB 313 [pdf]:
We Told You So: Subscribers Abandon DSL
We have long been arguing that the telephone and cable companies are not sufficiently investing in the connections needed by communities.
Media Coverage Roundup: Georgia AT&T Bill to Kill Community Broadband
In the wake of a bill in Georgia to revoke local authority and substitute it with state say-so over whether a community can build a broadband network, multiple outlets have covered the situation.
As usual,
In Chattanooga, EPB Customers Rave, Comcast Customers Livid
Chattanooga's community owned EPB Fiber Network continues to get positive reviews from subscribers in the local paper. And Comcast's customers continue to complain.
In Minnesota, Rural Fiber to the Farm Project Expands
A rural Fiber-to-the-Farm project that started in Sibley County has added three new towns to its potential territory due to the extremely high interest in fast, affordable, and reliable connections to the Internet.
Poor State of US Broadband a Result of Poor Regulation
I recently stumbled across a great point regarding the spectacular failure of the US (mostly the FCC, but Congress should certainly share some of the blame) to properly regulate broadband connections to the Internet. US policy results in a few massive providers dominating the market.
SEATOA Conference Coming Up in Chattanooga
The SouthEast Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors has its annual conference in Chattanooga this year - March 12 and 13th.
NATOA Encourages South Carolina Senate to Preserve Local Authority
With AT&T again pushing a bill in South Carolina to revoke local authority to build community broadband networks, the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisers has sent a
Kennedy School's Innovation in Government Award - Nominate Now
With all the great community broadband network projects out there that are owned by local governments, I hope readers will take some time to nominate some of them for the "Innovations in American Government" awards from the Ash Center at Harvard's Kennedy School.
Deadline for n
Georgia Legislature to Revoke Local Authority to Build Networks
The Georgia Senate is considering SB 313, a bill that would overrule local decision-making authority in matters of broadband.
Rural Community Broadband Network in Minnesota Garners More Coverage
Minnesota Public Radio has once again covered some of the many benefits coming from the stimulus-funded Southwest Minnesota Broadband Services that grew out of WindomNet, a small muni network.
Freedom to Connect is Back!
One of the great conferences, Freedom to Connect, is back for 2011!